Frequently asked questions: Drew Barrymore and WFP

3 March 2008

Drew Barrymore talks about her work with WFP on "The Oprah Winfrey Show". Drew focuses part of her work with us on our school feeding programmes - where hungry children are encouraged to go to school with the promise of a daily meal.

Introduction

Drew Barrymore talks about her work with the World Food Programme on "The Oprah Winfrey Show". Drew focuses part of her work with us on our school feeding programmes - where hungry children are encouraged to go to school with the promise of a daily meal.

How can I help to “Fill the Cup”?

The World Food Programme (WFP) has a dream: to feed 10 million more hungry schoolchildren in Africa by Thanksgiving Day. If every viewer of the “Oprah Winfrey Show” gives $50 to help fill a child’s cup for a year, we will reach that target.

Even a small donation will go a long way. Porridge, rice or beans -- it takes just 25 cents to fill one of the Red Cups that WFP uses to give hungry kids regular school meals. This food will not only feed bodies but also minds and transform children’s lives. To help us, click here.

2) What does WFP do?

As soon as a disaster strikes, WFP is on the scene, bringing food assistance to people who have suffered in earthquakes, floods or droughts.

WFP also provides food through projects such as school feeding – to help people struggling with poverty – especially women and children.

Each year, WFP delivers food to more than 70 million people in around 80 countries – providing emergency assistance as well as support to those recovering from war or disaster.

3) Why does Drew Barrymore help WFP?

An enthusiastic supporter of WFP since 2005, Drew Barrymore became an “Ambassador Against Hunger” in May 2007 and committed herself to focusing world attention on the damage hunger inflicts on people’s lives.

Drew has twice visited Kenya to see WFP projects for herself; she has raised funds to provide meals for schoolchildren through a celebrity auction of her own photos and highlighted WFP’s work on television shows and in magazine interviews.

4) Why is it important to provide children with meals in school?

Food is crucial to physical and mental development. The provision of a meal in school encourages poor families to send their children to class.

If a child gets a nutritious meal each day in school, they are better able to learn, are more likely to be healthy and is offered a more promising future.

One of Drew’s fellow Ambassadors Against Hunger, Paul Tergat, had to walk the 3 miles to school as a hungry child in Kenya.

Once he started to receive WFP school meals, he had the energy not only to get to school but also to concentrate on his lessons. The long-term pay-off is that he became a world famous athlete – and world marathon record holder.

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Hunger can be eliminated in our lifetimes

This requires comprehensive efforts to ensure that every man, woman and child enjoy their Right to Adequate Food; women are empowered; priority is given to family farming; and food systems everywhere are sustainable and resilient.